Children's Education Experience
In Wales, many adults are worried because more children are missing school than before the Covid-19 pandemic. Going to school regularly can help children learn and do well later in life. All children in Wales have a right to an education, set out in Article 28 of the UNCRC. This means adults have a responsibility to make sure school is a place that is welcoming, fair and supportive, where children feel able and want to go to learn and thrive.
Our Project
This research project aims to understand what school is like for children and young people, and what might make some children not want to go to school.
We want to hear directly from children about their experiences, thoughts and ideas about school in Wales. What we learn will help schools and people who make decisions about education to better support children and understand changes in school attendance since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Information for Teachers, Parents and Carers
Who is running this study?
This study is being run by the Collaborative Research Network for Equity and Inclusion, with researchers from The Open University leading the project.
It has been reviewed and approved through the university research ethics process. HREC Reference: 2026-1243-2
If you have any questions or worries about the study, you can contact the lead researcher, Dr Sarah Stewart, or the project Research Associate, Dr Linda Plowright-Pepper.
📧linda.plowright-pepper@open.ac.uk
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If you have concerns about the way the study is being conducted, you can contact another university staff member who is not involved in the project.
Who can take part?
We are inviting children and young people in Wales aged 7–16 to take part in this research by filling in an online questionnaire about what school is like for them. The questionnaire is being shared with schools across Wales, along with a lesson pack about children’s rights. This helps children understand their rights, think about how these link to their own lives, and share their experiences and ideas about school.
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We want to hear from all children and young people, including those who are home educated or not currently registered at a school.
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If a school completes the questionnaire with learners, parental consent will be secured in accordance with the school’s normal procedures for educational studies. The lead teacher should complete the gatekeeper consent form which is available in the resources area below.
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Children do not have to complete the questionnaire in school, and they do not need to be attending a school to take part. Parents, carers, or other responsible adults can share the questionnaire with a child or young person they support, as long as the child understands that taking part is their choice.
Schools, alternative education providers, and organisations that work with children and young people are also welcome to get in touch if they are interested in supporting follow-up creative activities linked to this research.
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We also offer a particular invitation for schools or organisations who support children aged 3 - 7 and who would like to take part in the study activities for our youngest children.
How will children's responses be used?
Children and young people who take part will be asked to complete an online questionnaire that takes about 10–15 minutes.
The questions ask them about their education whether that's their experience of school, or another form of learning (e.g. home schooling). Questions explore what helps or makes school or learning harder, and how school or learning could be better.
For children who are completing the questionnaire outside school, we recommend that they agree to take part with a parent, carer, or trusted adult first. For those under the age of 9, please ensure you complete the gatekeeper consent form available in the resources area below.
The questionnaire is anonymous. We will not ask children for their name or school, and any identifying features of responses will not be shared in the findings.
They can stop completing the questionnaire at any time by closing the browser and can skip questions if they choose.
Because the survey is anonymous, once the answers have been submitted, we won’t be able to remove them.
Responses will not be used to check children's attendance, contact schools, or follow up individual children in any way.
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Only the Open University researchers will have access to the data and this will be stored securely in accordance with data protection laws via the university system.
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How will you share what you learn?
Children's responses will help us to answer our overall research question:
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How do children understand and explain their experiences of education and/or school attendance, including the factors that encourage or discourage them from going to school, and what insights can their perspectives provide for designing early interventions when difficulties arise?
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Findings will be shared in a research report with Welsh Government and may also be included in academic outputs such as journals and presentations.
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We will also share our findings in materials designed for teachers, schools and for children and young people themselves.
Lesson Pack
This bilingual Lesson Pack is designed for use by teachers in Wales to help children and young people explore their Right to Education (Article 28, UNCRC) and to link this right to their own experiences.